Woman of the Year finalists announced
DENNISON (WJER) (Sept. 25, 2024) – A Dennison Depot Railroad Museum selection committee has chosen the five finalists out the nominations for this year’s Tuscarawas County Woman of the Year award.
They are Beth DiDonato of Dennison, Cyndy Host of Dennison, Kelly Rager of New Philadelphia, Nancy Schoenbaum of Canton, and Nell Winston of New Philadelphia.
Depot Marketing Coordinator Taylur Cunningham says the nominees must live or work in Tuscarawas County.
“The most important thing is that the woman who you nominated must have made a significant impact in Tuscarawas County trough volunteerism,” Cunningham said.
The Dennison Depot put out a call for nominations in July and the deadline to submit those was September 13th.
“We always have a lot of leading ladies in the area that are nominated for this wonderful award,” Cunningham said. “It’s always fun kind of narrowing them down to the top five.”
The winner will be announced at a banquet for the finalists on October 16th.
The Dennison Depot shared the following about the five finalists in a press release:
- Beth DiDonato is Executive Director of the Twin City Chamber of Commerce and a former teacher and principal in the Claymont City School District. She received her Bachelors degree in education from Kent State University and her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction and Masters in Administration from Ashland University. Her community service to the Twin Cities has spanned over many decades. She currently volunteers with the Claymont Foundation as president, Dennison Rotary as secretary, Clayland Lions Club, Dennison Rotary as secretary, Railroad Festival as secretary, Polar Express Train Ride as a storyteller and the Uhrichsville Methodist Church as Pastor/Staff Parish Relations Committee Chair. She and her husband Rich reside in Dennison.
- Cyndy Host was born and raised in Logan, a small town in southern Ohio. She graduated in 1990 from Logan High School, received her associates degree from Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky and then pursued her Bachelor’s degree from Ohio Dominican University, graduating in 1997. During that time she met her husband of 25 years, Kraig. They moved to Tuscarawas County where Cyndy found employment at Kimble Recycling and Disposal as their Controller from 1998-2011.In 2008, Cyndy decided to further her education by attending night school at Malone College to obtain her Master’s Degree in Business. Cyndy volunteers for numerous Tuscarawas County organizations such as Twin city Parks and Waterways, The Clayland Lions Club, Claymont Foundation, Claymont Booster Club, Project Leader for the annual Ball Drop Fundraiser, St. Mary’s Festival, Claymont Drama Department, and the Twin City Christian Service Center.
- Kelly Rager is known in the community for her commitment to several organizations and the children they benefit. She started the organization known as Blessings for a Backpack which benefits New Philadelphia School Children who need food to take home on the weekends. It has grown from benefiting 60 children when it first started to now sending food home with 1200 children on a weekly basis during the school year. She has volunteered for other organizations such as the Caring Hearts fundraiser which is held by the East Central Association of Realtors, the Color Run at Buckeye Career Center, The Rainbow Connection’s Annual Telethon, Community Hospice, and kickstarting an accelerated reading auction in the schools.
- Nancy Schoenbaum has dedicated nearly 40 years to volunteering at Camp Tuscazoar in Dover, Ohio. Nancy serves the Treasurer and as the main point of contact at the camp answering countless phone calls, answering emails and volunteering at fundraising events. She’s organized several events each year for youth to come and enjoy nature, earn scout badges, explore the wilderness that is Camp Tuscazoar. Tuscazoar hosts several day camps including scouts, church and youth groups, area science camps, high school mountain bike events, cross country running camps, and many more events.
- Ornella “Nell” Winston has spent many years as a realtor, currently with Howard Hanna. Nell has been active board member for 25 years of the Tuscarawas County Council for Church and Community (T4C) and the ‘Share a Christmas’ Program. She also volunteers for “Run for Home Half Marathon,” The Ohio State Alumni Club of Tuscarawas County, and was a Farm Bureau board member for 10 years. Nell has been a tireless volunteer for many organizations and brings her energy and can-do spirit to all her volunteer activities. From hiding Easter Eggs for Pissocra-Mathias Realty Easter Egg Hunt to the countless volunteer hours she gives to Tuscarawas Central Catholic to Care Free Fund for Children – which benefits Akron Children’s Hospital to Tuff Bag and Blessings in a Backpack, which supplies food for children in need for the weekends.